Mike Tomlin knows the task for the Steelers on Thursday night will be much more difficult with Joe Flacco as the Bengals’ quarterback. Tomlin said yesterday he was shocked that Cleveland traded Flacco to the Bengals last week, claiming Browns general manager Andrew Berry “must be much smarter” than he is. Flacco threw for 219 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Packers on Sunday. In his career, he is 11-11 against the Steelers, with 23 starts as the quarterback of the Ravens and one as an Indianapolis Colt.
Tomlin says the task for the Steelers’ defense got a whole lot harder when Flacco became a Bengal.
Offensively, the Steelers will have to contain Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That’s assuming Hendrickson will be able to play after injuring his back and leaving Sunday’s game against Green Bay.
Tomlin says as good as it was to beat the Browns at home on Sunday, there was at least one part of their game the Steelers have to clean up. They were flagged for penalties ten times for 59 yards.
The injury news for the Steelers after Sunday’s game includes the knee injury suffered by Miles Killebrew. Tomlin only said Killebrew is “out” for Thursday night. Calvin Austin III missed Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury and his return will be determined based on how he feels after he practices today and tomorrow. Tomlin said everyone else who had injuries on Sunday appears ready to go this week. Linebacker Malik Harrison practiced yesterday for the first time since suffering a knee injury in Week One. The team has 21 days to activate him or place him on IR for the rest of the season.
NFL
Tennessee became the first team to fire its coach yesterday, dismissing Brian Callahan six games into his second season. He was 1-5 this year after going 3-14 last year.
There were two Monday Night Football games last night, with the Falcons upsetting the Bills, 24-14 and the Buccaneers beating the 49ers, 30-19.
